Jintong

Shangguan Jintong is the main character and narrator of the novel Big Breasts and Wide Hips by Mo Yan. Jintong is the ninth child of Mother, and has eight older sisters. Jintong is the only son of Mother, and as such, he is spoiled beyond compare, to the detriment and resentment of his sisters. Jintong has a blind twin sister named Yunu. He and his sister are the illegitimate offspring of local Christian Pastor Malory, who commits suicide. Jintong is raised by Mother, suckling at her breast well into his teenage years. This is a source of embarrassment to his sisters, who attempt unsuccessfully to wean Jintong off of his mother's breast. Jintong, however, has an unhealthy obsession with breasts, be they his mother's, sisters', or those of women in the village.

The result of this obsession, and the lack of masculine influence in Jintong's life, lead to...